Creative workshop for service children hosted on Lincoln Bishop campus

LiNCHigher hosted Purple Up Day at Lincoln Bishop University – an event focused on reflection, creativity and sharing for some of Lincolnshire’s Service children.

In April 2026, LiNCHigher hosted a Purple Up Day event at Lincoln Bishop University for Service children from three Lincolnshire schools including; Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, Branston Community Academy and Stamford Welland Academy. 

LiNCHigher is a collaborative project which is part of a wider national initiative called Uni Connect, funded by the Office for Students (OfS). They provide young people with the information, advice, and inspiration they need to make an informed decision regarding Higher Education pathways.

On the day, LiNCHigher collaborated with the charity Never Such Innocence to deliver the session. Two of their practitioners, Azan and Sara, attended to host some inspiring poetry and art workshops. The theme was focused on the ‘Winds of Change’ – this year’s theme for April, the Month of the Military Child.

In the poetry workshop, Azan worked with students around the idea of change. Many students were able to open up about their feelings around their parents being posted overseas as well as changes closer to home. Some students were able to share their poetry in front of the rest of their group, which was a great confidence building exercise!

In the art workshops, Sara talked to students about how wind can be used to reflect changes and feelings in imagery and artwork. Students were encouraged to think about their feelings during a period of change and channel this into either a sketch or a collage. The students got really stuck in to collage making and created some really meaningful pieces of art! 

During the reflection period, students were able to share their experiences from across the day with the whole cohort and had the opportunity to explain why they had chosen particular elements of their artwork or poetry. It was a time to celebrate all that the students had achieved. 

When asked what their main takeaways from the day were, many students identified feelings towards change as well as knowing that it is okay to feel a range of feelings, and that they aren’t alone in this experience. 

A special thanks to LiNCHigher, Never Such Innocence, Lincoln Bishop University and Lincoln Bishop University Students’ Union for their contributions to the event. 

To find out more about similar events, contact Emily at LiNCHigher by emailing Emily.lombardi@lincolnbishop.ac.uk

At Lincoln Bishop University, we’re proud to be a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence’s ELCAS scheme, meaning military personnel, veterans, and reservists can use this funding to support their studies with us.

To find out more about opportunities for Armed Forces members and their families at Lincoln Bishop, please click here!